Hongshi Forest National Geopark is located in Qiatong Town and Duanlongshan Town, Guzhang County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, about 26 kilometers away from Guzhang County Seat and about 52 kilometers away from Jishou City, the prefectural capital of Xiangxi. The park covers a total area of 20 square kilometers. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, a national geopark, and the only red carbonate rock forest formed in the Cambrian period in the world. The scenic area takes red stone forest landscape as the core, and also has natural landscapes such as canyons, streams, and waterfalls. The stone forest was formed in the Ordovician period 450 million years ago, and through long-term weathering and erosion, it has formed a unique composite landform of "karst" and "danxia". There is currently 1 tourist service center and 1 geological museum in the park, which can accommodate 1,500 visitors at the same time, and has 5 major stone forest landscape areas and 3 ecological tour routes.
History and Culture
The rocks of Hongshi Forest were formed in the Ordovician period. At that time, it was a shallow sea environment. After hundreds of millions of years of geological changes, marine biological fossils and carbonate rock sediments formed red rock layers. The paleontological fossils (such as trilobites and brachiopods) found in the scenic area are 450 million years old and are important physical materials for studying ancient marine ecology and geological evolution.
This is also a settlement of the Tujia people, retaining rich Tujia folk culture. The "Tuwang Camp" site in the stone forest is verified to be a military fortress of the Tujia chieftains in the Ming Dynasty. The existing stone city wall remains are about 800 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 3-4 meters high. The local Tujia people still retain traditional customs such as "Tiaomogusi" and "Baishou Dance", and hold grand ethnic festivals on the third day of the third lunar month and the sixth day of the sixth lunar month every year.
Main Attractions
Earth Theater
Covering an area of about 300 mu, it is the core landscape area of Hongshi Forest, named because the shape of the stone forest is very similar to a natural theater. The stone pillars here are 5-15 meters high and come in various shapes, such as the "Dinghai Shenzhen", "Ancient Castle", and "Qianceng Rock". Among them, the "Giant Garden" attraction has dozens of stone pillar clusters with a height of more than 10 meters, which is magnificent.
Ancient City Forbidden City
The stone forest landscape is distributed in layers, with clear rock layers and textures, just like the walls and palaces of ancient palaces. In the core area, there is a giant rock 8 meters high and 12 meters wide. The surface naturally forms a relief pattern similar to the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. According to the research of geological experts, it is formed by the combined action of paleontological reef fossils and sedimentary rock layers.
Underwater Tunnel
It is an underground karst cave about 500 meters long. The average height inside the cave is 3-5 meters, and the width is 2-4 meters. A large number of marine biological fossil remains such as corals and shells can be seen on the cave wall. The constant temperature in the cave is 18°C, which is cool and pleasant in summer, making it an excellent summer resort.
Tuwang Camp Ruins
Located in the northwest of the stone forest, there are remaining relics such as stone city walls and watchtowers. The main city wall is about 300 meters long, with 3 city gates. Defensive stone trenches are distributed outside the city wall, 2 meters deep and 3 meters wide, which are important relics for studying the military defense system of the Tujia people in the Ming Dynasty.
Ordovician Paleontological Fossil Museum
Covering an area of 1,000 square meters, it displays more than 200 paleontological fossil specimens such as trilobites, hornstones, and graptolites found in the scenic area. Among them, a trilobite fossil group specimen 2.5 meters long and 1.8 meters wide is rare in China.
Shenlong Gorge
It is a 2-kilometer-long canyon. The bottom of the valley is 5-10 meters wide, and the stone forests on both sides are up to 50 meters high, forming a "Yixiantian" (a narrow strip of sky) landscape. There are 3 waterfalls in the canyon, and the highest waterfall has a drop of 30 meters. The water flows down along the red rock wall, forming the wonder of "Red Wall Flying Waterfall".
Delicacies
Tujia Smoked Bacon
A traditional food of the Tujia people, it is made by pickling local native pigs and smoking them with cypress branches for more than 30 days. The meat is firm and has a rich smoky flavor. Common cooking methods include stir-frying smoked bacon with green peppers and stewing smoked bacon with potatoes. The per capita consumption in scenic area restaurants is 30-40 yuan.
Sour Soup Fish
A characteristic dish in western Hunan. The sour soup is made by fermenting rice washing water, and it is stewed with local rice flower fish. The soup is golden yellow, sour and spicy, and appetizing. The fish meat is tender, and the sour soup can be served with rice. It is sold in restaurants around the scenic area for 50-60 yuan per portion, suitable for 2-3 people to eat.
Artemisia Cake
It is made by mixing fresh artemisia in spring with glutinous rice flour and wrapping it with sesame and peanut fillings, then steaming it. It has a soft and glutinous taste and a fresh fragrance of artemisia. It is sold in the scenic area for 5 yuan each and is a snack loved by tourists.
Shefan (Social Rice)
A festival food of the Tujia people, which is made by mixing glutinous rice, wild artemisia, smoked bacon, peanuts, etc. and steaming them. It is rich in nutrition and has a pungent aroma. Around the Spring Social Day (the second day of the second lunar month) every year, the scenic area will hold a Shefan production experience activity. Tourists can participate in the production, and the per capita experience fee is 20 yuan.
Maize Shaojiu (Maize Liquor)
A high-proof white wine brewed with local corn, with an alcohol content of 50-55 degrees. It has a mellow taste and the effect of dispelling cold and dampness. It is sold in scenic area specialty stores for 20-30 yuan per catty, and on-site tasting is available.
Admission Tickets
The ticket price is 120 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "湘西芙蓉镇旅游" in WeChat to get the latest news or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
It is open throughout the year, and the daily opening hours are 08:00-17:30 (admission stops at 16:30). From April to October is the tourist peak season, and the scenic area extends the opening hours to 18:00. In winter, if there is ice and snow weather, some trails may be temporarily closed, subject to the announcement of the scenic area.
Tour Routes
One-day tour: After arriving in the morning, take a sightseeing bus to the Earth Theater, visit for 1.5 hours, and visit attractions such as "Giant Garden" and "Dinghai Shenzhen"; then go to the Ancient City Forbidden City, take photos and visit for 1 hour; have lunch in the scenic area restaurant and taste sour soup fish and Tujia smoked bacon; visit the Ordovician Paleontological Fossil Museum in the afternoon (40 minutes), then hike Shenlong Gorge (1.5 hours), finally go to the Tuwang Camp Ruins to learn about history (30 minutes), and purchase Artemisia Cakes and other specialties at the tourist center before returning.
Two-day tour: The first day's itinerary is the same as above. The next day, go to the "Sunrise Viewing Platform" in the early morning to watch the sunrise (05:30-06:00 in summer, 06:30-07:00 in winter), then visit the Underwater Tunnel (1 hour), participate in Shefan production experience or watch Tujia Baishou Dance performance in the afternoon (14:00-15:00), and return in the evening.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Jishou City, drive along Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway→Zhangjiajie-Huayuan Expressway, get off the expressway at Guzhang Toll Station, and turn to S229 Provincial Road to the scenic area. The whole journey is about 52 kilometers, and the driving time is 1.5 hours; starting from Zhangjiajie, drive along Zhangjiajie-Huayuan Expressway→Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway, the whole journey is about 180 kilometers, and the driving time is 2.5 hours. The scenic area parking lot charges 10 yuan per day.
- Bus: Guzhang County Bus Station has direct buses to the scenic area at 08:30, 10:30, and 13:30 every day, with a fare of 12 yuan and a driving time of 50 minutes; the return times are 10:00, 12:00, and 15:00.
- Tourist Special Line: There is a tourist special line directly to Hongshi Forest at 09:00 every day at the square in front of Jishou City Railway Station, with a fare of 25 yuan and a driving time of 1.5 hours; the return time is 16:00.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Earth Theater: The core landscape of Hongshi Forest, with stone pillars 5-15 meters high. The "Giant Garden" attraction is magnificent. It is recommended to visit from 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning when the light is best.
- Shenlong Gorge: A 2-kilometer-long canyon with 3 waterfalls with a drop of 30 meters. It is cool in summer. It is recommended to visit in the afternoon to avoid the high temperature at noon.
- Ordovician Paleontological Fossil Museum: It displays more than 200 paleontological fossils. Among them, the 2.5-meter-long trilobite fossil group is rare in China. You need to follow the guide to understand (free explanation once every hour).
Tour Tips
- The best tourist seasons are April-May (spring grass is green) and October-November (autumn is crisp). In summer, pay attention to sun protection (the stone forest is not sheltered), and in winter, prepare non-slip shoes.
- The Shenlong Gorge trail is a stone step road. It is recommended to wear non-slip shoes and carry 1 liter of drinking water; the elderly and children can take the scenic area battery car to the entrance of the canyon (fee: 5 yuan).
- During Tujia festivals (such as March 3), there are many tourists. If you need to watch the performance, you need to occupy a seat 30 minutes in advance. Female tourists can rent Tujia costumes for photos (20 yuan/set).
- Touching exhibits is prohibited in the fossil museum. You can take photos but need to turn off the flash; it is recommended to carry a magnifying glass to observe the fossil traces on the rock surface.
Notes
- The rock walls of the stone forest are fragile. Climbing or carving is prohibited. There are surveillance cameras along the way, and violations will face fines.
- Some sections of Shenlong Gorge are slippery. It is recommended to wear waterproof shoes. Pay attention to anti-slip in rainy days, and children need to be accompanied by adults throughout the process.
- Smoking and picnicking are prohibited in the scenic area. Smoking needs to go to the designated area, and littering will be fined 50 yuan.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in areas above 600 meters above sea level. It is recommended to travel in groups, and do not enter the unopened stone forest area alone when hiking.
- When purchasing specialties, it is recommended to go to the designated stores in the scenic area to avoid buying high-priced goods at roadside stalls. For example, you can ask to taste maize shaojiu before buying.